HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC

INTRODUCTION:

Indian classical music (Hindustani classical music)is the traditional music of northeastern areas of the Indian subcontinent including the modern states of India. It may also be called north Indian classical music or shastriya sangit. Its origins date from the 12th century CE. Hindustani classical music has strongly influenced Indonesian classical music especially in instruments melody, harmony, and beat. Its main instruments are table, sitar, sarod, flute and modern guitars. Hindustani classical music can be divided into melody, rhythm and harmony. The Indian classical music has 2 foundational elements raga and tala. The major vocal forms associate with Hindustani classical music are DHRUPAD, KHYAL,THUMRI,TARANA,TAPPA,GHAZAL etc.  















CHARACTERISTICS:
Indian classical music has been seven basic notes with five interspersed half notes resulting in a 12 scale notes. However with the gradual replacement of the sarangi by the harmonium an equal tempered scale is increasingly used. The performance is set to a melodic pattern called a raga characterized in part by specific ascent (aroha) and descent (avaroha) sequences which may not be identical. Other characteristics include "king" (vadi) and "queen" (samvadi) notes and characterized phrases (pakad). Ragas are of three types (jatis) ourab-five notes, sharab-six notes, sampurna-seven notes. From one that several ragas can be composed. The types of ragas ,may be oirab oirab, oirab sharab, sharab sampurna, sharab sharab etc. The continuous playing or singing of a raga creates a mood which has an effect on the listeners and they like it. Ragas also have specific timings of the day and night. There are morning ragas, ragas of the noon, afternoon, ragas of the evening and ragas of the night. Also ragas suitable for particular season like spring, summer, monsoon, winter.

PRINCIPLES OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC:

The rhythmic organization is based on rhythmic patterns called tala. The melodic foundations are called ragas. One possible classification of raga is into "melodic modes", known as thaats under which most ragas can be identified based on the notes they used. Thaats may be consist up to seven scale degrees or swara.

•  sa(sadja)
• re(rishabh)
• ga(gandhar)
• ma(madhyam)
• pa(pancham)
• dha(dhaivat)
• ni(nishad)

TYPES OF COMPOSITIONS:

The major vocal forms or styles associated with Hindustani classical music are dhrupad, khyal, tarana. Other forms include dhamar, tappa, thumri, dadra, gazhal, or bhajan.

DHRUPAD:

Dhrupad is an old style of singing traditionally performed by male singers. It is performed with the tanpura and a pakhawaj as instrumental accompanists. The rudra veena an ancient string instrument is used in instrumental music in dhrupad. Dhrupad music is primarily devotional in theme and content. It contains recitals in praise of particular deities. Dhrupad compositions begin with a relatively long and acyclic alap. The great musician Tansen sang in the dhrupad style. A lighter form of dhrupad is called dhamar.

KHYAL:

Khyal is a more modern Hindustani form of vocal music. khyal literally meaning "thought" .A khyal is a 2-8 line lyric set to a melody. The importance of khyal's content is for the singer to depict through music in the set raga, the emotional significance of the khyal.

TARANA:

Another vocal form taranas are medium to fast paced songs that are used to convey a mood of elation and are usually performed towards the end of the concert. They consist of few lines of poetry with soft syllables or bols set to a tune. The tillana of Carnatic music is based on the tarana although the former is primarily associated with dance.


LEGENDS OF HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC:

Padma vibhushan awarded famous hindustani classical singer Kishori Tai Amonkar.

Famous tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain awarded with Padma shri and Padma Bhushan.





famous flute player Pt.Hariprasad Chaurasia awarded with Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.





famous harmonium player from Goa Pt. Tulsidas Borkar awarded with Padma Shri.





famous sarangi player Suhail Yusuf  Khan.